CNBNews

COVID-19 patient and survivor Paul Beaulieu of Maple Shade, NJ, recently became the first Jefferson New Jersey recipient of convalescent plasma donated by a recovered COVID-19 patient. Part of a regulated research project, blood is collected at the Jefferson Blood Donation Center in Philadelphia from qualified, recovered Jefferson COVID-19 patients. The blood is then centrifuged, or “spun down,” to separate the plasma, which is thought to contain antibodies. The research hopes to prove that the antibodies help to aid in COVID patients’ recovery.

Mr. Beaulieu, 65, said that what he assumed was a cold soon felt like there was a “car sitting on his chest,” before being admitted to Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital on May 18^th. He was suffering from pneumonia brought on by COVID-19. Beaulieu's clinical condition made him eligible for the research study criteria. He said he was happy to take part because it would allow him to help with the research project, and “because I want to help my fellow man, but it could also help me, too.” He received the transfusion on May 21 while a hospital patient; he was discharged on May 26. The convalescent plasma was in addition to treatments by his providers.

Beaulieu added that he was very impressed with the care he received at Jefferson, from the time of admission to his discharge: “I’m feeling almost 100 percent better. I can’t say enough about the doctors and nurses who took care of me.”

Shown in the photo are, from left: Marianne Kraemer, RN, research nurse; Cindy Hou, DO, Jefferson Health New Jersey Infection Control Officer and Jefferson Health New Jersey Principal Researcher; patient Paul Beaulieu; and nurses Lauren Rivard, RN; and Mary Miller, RN, CIC.